The Toronto Raptors acquired Kawhi Leonard knowing quite well how risky it was. Leonard is one of the greatest players in NBA history, but he also arrives for a second stint in Toronto with an extensive injury history playing an unavoidable role in his potential fit.
With Leonard's availability a year-by-year question mark, Toronto's best shot at overcoming his injury history and what it may mean for his future is polarizing shooting guard RJ Barrett.
Barrett has quietly become one of the better shooting guards in the NBA. He's a dynamic shot creator, a quality playmaker for his position, and a competitive all-around defender. Unfortunately, his inefficiency tends to receive the loudest recognition.
If Leonard ends up missing time, however, then Toronto will need a high-volume scorer to plug in the gaps from time to time—and history suggests that need will arise.
Leonard appeared in 65 games in 2025-26 and 68 in 2023-24. In saying that, he missed 45 games in 2024-25, 30 in 2022-23, and the entire 2021-22 campaign. In fact, he's missed at least 20 games in six of the past nine seasons. Considering he projects to be Toronto's go-to scorer, that leaves quite a void to potentially need to be filled.
Though there isn't a perfect way to replace a player of Leonard's caliber, no one on the roster is better qualified than Barrett to handle an elevated workload as a scorer.
Raptors need RJ Barrett to step up as a scorer if Kawhi's injuries persist
Brandon Ingram led the Raptors in scoring in 2025-26, but was sent to the LA Clippers in the Leonard trade. That makes Barrett the leading returning scorer at 19.3 points in 30.3 minutes per game. For what it's worth: That translates to 22.9 points per 36 minutes, which is a mark he's met or exceeded in each of the past three seasons.
Barrett shot just 33.9 percent from beyond the arc this past season, but he proved during the playoffs that he can step up when the lights are shining bright—and pressure of any kind mounts.
Barrett finished the 2026 NBA Playoffs with averages of 24.1 points, 7.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.3 steals, and 2.4 three-point field goals made on .477/.386/.634 shooting. He went toe-to-toe with James Harden and Donovan Mitchell, and tied with Scottie Barnes for the team lead in scoring.
That may call into question why it can't be Barnes who steps up in Leonard's potential absence, but there's a dangerous line that Toronto would be toeing by putting any more on their franchise player's plate.
Barnes is already the Raptors' do-it-all player. He's trusted to score with volume, create for others, defend opposing teams' best player, and still provide off-ball value. Taxing him with upping his scoring to Leonard's level may be possible, but it isn't necessarily conducive to Toronto supporting its most well-rounded star in a way that takes pressure off of him, as well.
By leaning on Barrett, however, the Raptors can trust a proven volume scorer to step up when his number is called, preserve Barnes' energy, and give Leonard a chance to play the schedule he's capable of.
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